Soar-Dream-France

One of my Favorite Things

A few posts back, these raindrops on roses got me to thinking about favorite things. I realized after the post and comments from others, that I really didn't mention any of my favorite things that carry me through when times are tough.  There are many, but it is the last photo I'm going to share with you that portrays one of my most favorite things. Of course, there's a little story that goes with it.

When Rob was here last fall to visit and take care of Dal, Sam and Rocky when Jean and I went to Spain, he noticed that every time I spoke to a special someone in my life I lit up.  He told me I had "the look".  He gave me pause to think about this "look" and especially how I feel when I have it.  He told me that if I could describe it in my writing, I would sell a million copies of whatever I wrote. Back from Spain and getting ready for winter, I had even more time to ponder the "look" and started with something that was the name of an old Fifth Dimension song: "The Look of Love". But, that seemed trite, cliché, and just a little bull shitty. Then, I thought about our lights as individuals and the light that can be seen in our eyes. We all have the light.  I've come to think about it as a pilot light. The pilot light ignites and burns brighter when we: are at peace, feel love, feel joy, and when we can live in the moment.  We glow. Our light shines. We have heaven on earth.  We have perfection. I've discovered that my light shines brightest when those who love me, know me so well that they can predict what I'm going to do next.  When Dali is off her leash, I frequently walk on ahead of her.  I turn around to check from time to time and I have found I have "the look" every time I see her trotting around the bend on the road behind me.  But one morning, I'd walked to where we usually stop on this particular route.   I turned around, expecting to see her trotting along and ready to turn around with me to head back home. But, not this time.  There she was, waiting for me.  I had the "look" and a smile from ear to ear. She knows me well. I think she has the "look" too!

My Visit to Cadrieu/I am on Vacation

Last but not least, in my series on the participants in the Cadrieu Through Their Eyes, section are the pieces from Kathleen Bourgeois and Tom Merello.  I've already written in depth about Tom's pieces, back before the vernissage when he inspired me to "work harder".  So, today I'm going to focus on Kathleen's piece.  She has a variety of photos uniquely displayed, but it was her words that touched me most deeply.  Here they are:

"I have many favorite pictures from our stay in Cadrieu during November 2007--included here are a few of my most favorite.  There are so many things to love about the French countryside--the beauty of the rural landscape, the generous and spirited people, the quiet moments, the medieval architecture, and the unique history of a specific place--I hope to have captured just a bit of that in these pictures.  The Mediterranean Cypress tree in the Cadrieu cemetery holds a very special place in my heart--I love this tree--it lets me know I am once again at home in Cadrieu."-Kathleen Bourgeois

We share so much, that it is hard for me to put words to how much it meant to me to have Kat and Tom participate in the vernissage. I found myself with tears in my eyes when I read: "I am once again at home in Cadrieu" because I feel like it is their home too.  I particularly loved one of Evelyn's photos of the vernissage evening.  There were Auguste and Jean-Pierre looking at Kat and Tom's pieces together and reading every word (translated to French of course)...incredible people and incredible moments to share with our village.  I don't think there is any doubt-we love Cadrieu! Congratulations Kat and Tom and thanks for sharing so much of yourselves with me and the rest of the village-Love Always-Laury, Dali and Sam

 

Mad for Montmartre

I am writing something today for a special audience.  Each Friday, I will choose photos and write about them for our Monday language class.  Today, I want to share three of Kathleen's photos of Montmartre in Paris. 

We are sisters.  Kathleen's husband is named Tom. We love Montmartre.  Montmartre was the first place I stayed on my first trip to Paris in 1992.  Tom, Kathleen and I stayed in Montmartre in 2001 when they came with me to sign the Intent to Purchase for my house in Cadrieu.  We saw a lot of sites on our first trip to Paris together.  The first place we went was le Père Lachaise cemetery because it was "All Soul's Day" and we wanted to see all of the flowers.  On our last day in Paris, Tom and Kathleen were very tired.  So, I went out in Paris on my own to see many of my old favorite neighborhoods.  I said goodby to them at the hotel.  When I returned later that night, I brought a fancy chocolate cake from Stroher's on the Rue Montorgueil.  We sat in our hotel room and drank coke with our expensive chocolate cake, that I cut into pieces with my Louisiana Driver's License. They told me about their day that they spent wandering around in the streets of Montmartre.  I knew then, that they had fallen in love with Montmartre too. 

I Love France...Especially Cadrieu!

Today's feature from "Cadrieu Through Their Eyes" comes from my friends Eric Holsapple and Steward Bertrand who live in my old neighborhood in New Orleans.  Stew and Eric came to visit in April of 2008, sandwiching a week with us between Paris and Barcelona. (Not a bad sandwich, if I do say so myself!) I've been friends with Stew and Eric for almost 20 years.  We've celebrated just about every holiday together at one time or another, and around the anniversary of their visit I wrote about them on the blog earlier this year.  Great friends-amazing people-loved by me and now many of the others in the village.  I plan to keep the show up through the end of the first weekend in October so some conference participants can see it.  I spoke with Evelyn this morning about what I'm going to do with my "Cadrieu Through Their Eyes" participants, and I think we have a plan.  I didn't think much beyond the vernissage for some of the pieces that were included that will be staying with me-there's going to be even more magic mixing going on inside the Chatette when the love and creative energy of my friends and family comes back upstairs and inside.  Thanks Steward and Eric-you'd have loved seeing everyone view your photos and see what you wrote.  I may have seen a tear in the eye of an old friend or two!  Love you Both and Merci-Laury

Happy Birthday Dad-

Thinking about my Dad's Birthday today, I looked through a lot of pictures before I chose the ones I wanted to include today.  I have some favorites that aren't here with me, but I think these may  now be new favorites.  I love my Daddy.  Dad and I have always been close, and not just because I'm named after him.  We've always been able to talk about things that are important and he's given me very good advice over the years.  He always said that if I thought I wanted more than a university education, I needed to keep on going to school until I had enough because once you stop you never go back.  I listened.  After I graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in May 1976, I began working on my Masters in Social Work at Tulane University in New Orleans in August 1976. By December of 1977, I had my MSW at the age of 23.  That's where the listening stopped.  I felt like I had been in school my whole life, so after grad school I did some traveling around the states and began working.  I tried to stay in St. Louis after grad school, but New Orleans was in my blood and by July of '78 I was back in New Orleans for (what I believed) good.  I chuckled at each of these pictures, because not only do I need to be touching my Daddy, but Dali does too!  She was a new puppy on her first trip to St. Louis when she always laid by Dad with her cheek on his foot. She loves my Daddy too!  The top photo was taken at our first house on Kappel Drive, Christmas of '91 in New Orleans, Dad and I sitting on a bench after a walk in Wabash Park in Ferguson, Dad and I on the steps at Houmas House, Dad smiling in 1977, and Dad and Dali in 1999. Lots of good times and wonderful memories to say Happy Birthday Daddy-Love, Laury, Dali and Sam

The Sheltering Spirit of Hidden Places

Over the next few days (except tomorrow because it's Dad's Birthday), I want to share Cadrieu Through Their Eyes with my friends and family whose "eyes" were featured in the vernissage.  It's not the same as being here, but it's the best I can do under the circumstances.  I've started today with Michel Kelly and André Schroeder, who are my very good friends that live across the street from Mom and Dad in St. Louis. Michel's prose are beautiful, and I hope to share them with you as I feature each photo individually sometime soon.  Congratulations Michel and André, your photos, the English/French translation and the sentiments expressed were perfect. Having you here in spirit, sharing your creative energies, meant the world to me and touched many more! Love, Laury

Mélange-ing Creative Energy and Community

Saturday evening's vernissage was a huge success in my book.  I'll be sharing bits and pieces with you over the next week or so, and plan to set up a photo album for Vernissage 2008 and Vernissage 2009.  That way, you can see the fun we had at both events...each wonderful, but different.  As much work as something like this is for just one night, it is always full of surprises and amazing experiences.  This year, I had the artists from last year submit one special piece to hang on the featured wall and then invited them and artists in the village to bring others. On Wednesday morning, everyone brought their pieces to the Chatette between 10am and noon.  Everyone expected was accounted for by noon and the Chatette living room was full of many unique pieces.  We had the photography from my friends and family in the states framed, translated and sitting on the sofa, paintings from Greg, photography from Jean-Pierre, patchworks from Therese, needlework from Jean, a piece in 3-D from Patricia, Evelyn's photos, André's garotte and basket, Monique's water color, and my collages.  When I walked in the door from the terrace, I was struck by the volume and depth of creative energy swirling around in that room and an intense sense of community.  All I could think is: "This is what mélange-ing magic is really all about!"

Happy Birthday Vann-

Recovering from the vernissage last night, I realized that today is my friend Vann's birthday.  (I've mentioned him on the blog before when I wrote about Richard Bach's books.)  We got to know each other during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent levee breaches.  I started to put a photo of him here, but thought he might enjoy this shot of me that Evelyn took today from the  Belgian Cross with Cadrieu in the background.  (In my overalls, of course.) Working12 hours a day 7 days a week, he is difficult to get in touch with most of the time.  Factor in France and five thousand miles, and it becomes even more difficult. So, I thought that this might be the perfect happy birthday to Vann.  He was there for me during the torturous times of New Orleans after the levee breach.  We often marveled at the fact that the storm brought us together.  We probably would have never otherwise crossed each other's paths. We had some early rocky moments, but over time he became one of the few people in my life who really knew how truly fragile I was.  He will always be that sweet man who would let me cry, and then ask me: "What can I do to make you happy, Laury?"  I'd say: "Bring back my New Orleans, but nobody can do that for me." Because of what we shared, he will always be important to me even if there's 5000 miles and an ocean between us.  Happy Birthday Vann-Love, Laury, Dali and Sam

Dali is Done

 

As Patrick and Greg moved into Dali's staked out corner as we hung the work in the cave last night, she'd had enough.  She graciously removed herself to the terrace where she remained till we were finished.  We're close-deviled eggs and finger sandwiches are done, a beautiful bouquet has arrived from Kat and Tom and Mom and Dad, Christiane came this morning to help hang the patchworks in the atrium, and Evelyn and I are off to sweep!  Happy Saturday-be back tomorrow!

Raindrops on Roses-

-and whiskers on kittens. Then, Julie Andrews goes on to sing: these are a few of my favorite things. Her list goes on and on and I finally realized that she has way more favorite things, than dog bites and bee stings. Her favorite things carry her through.  What a great lesson in focusing on the positives: our loves, our joys, our passions and our peace that can carry us through when times are tough. I have my list, how about you? What gets you through the tough times?